Popular American actor Dennis Quaid (full name is Dennis William Quaid) was born April 9, 1954 in Houston, Texas. After graduating from Bellaire High School, he enrolled in the theater arts department at the University of Houston, but soon left school and left for Los Angeles, hoping to become a film actor. Nobody was waiting for him in Hollywood, and Quaid had to somehow get settled in order to earn a living. To begin with, he became a waiter in a cafe, but after working for two months, he realized that he wasted time. Then Dennis got a job as a clown in a children's amusement park. Performances took all daytime, but they managed to earn money - the knowledge gained at the theater department in Houston came in handy.
Big movie debut
However, Dennis Quaid, whose photos were already in all the agencies for the selection of actors, did not leave attempts to become a movie star, and in the end his perseverance was rewarded with several episodes in some low-budget film. And, as it turned out, it was only necessary to begin. Gradually capable aspiring actor was noticed, and he began to receive roles, albeit episodic, but with the text. And in 1979, Quaid played the role of Mike, one of four friends in the youth film “Going Away,” directed by Peter Yates. The role was essentially one of the main and required a real acting. Dennis had already gained experience in film episodes by that time and had coped with his task.
First nominations
The young actor received some very flattering reviews from critics. And since the film was immediately awarded with five nominations for the Oscar, four for the Golden Globe and one for the BAFTA, the future of Dennis promised to be promising. Indeed, Quaid starred in 1981 in three films at once: "Caveman", "All Night Long" and "The Night the Lights Turned Off in Georgia." Films with Dennis Quaid were filmed more often, and this gave the young actor confidence.
The main roles of Quaid
The film "Caveman" directed by Karl Gottlieb is an unusual stylish production, telling about the completely meaningful life of prehistoric people. The main role, the character of Atuk, was played by Ringo Starr, the role of Lara, his friend, was played by Dennis Quaid. The heroes of the film communicated in a prehistoric language that is understood only by themselves. The words most often sounded: Ul - food and Zag Zag - sex.
The film "The Night When the Lights Turned Off in Georgia" directed by Ronald Maxwell is about young musicians trying to find a use for themselves without any success. Dennis Quaid played Travis, who during his creative career created only one hit and is very burdened by this circumstance. In the end, he throws music and goes into all serious ways, constantly gets drunk in the company of random women and ends up in jail, from where his sister Christie is trying to rescue him.
And the film "All Night Long" directed by Jean-Claude Tramont was marked by the stellar participation of Barbra Streisand (Cheryl Gibbons) and Gene Hackman (George Dapler). Dennis Quaid played Freddy Dapler, son of George Dapler. Freddy has a close relationship with Cheryl. Freddy's father, in the course of events unfolding in the picture, is trying to ward off the too lively girl Cheryl from his son. However, he falls in love with her.
Role of the space actor
Then, in 1982, actor Dennis Quaid played astronaut Gordon Cooper in the film directed by Philip Kaufman "Guys What You Need." The character of Quaid was the best suited for science fiction stories, and the following year Dennis got the role of Alex Gardner in the film “Flight from Sleep” directed by Joseph Ruben. And in 1985, Dennis Quaid, whose filmography was quickly replenished with new paintings, played Willis David, the pilot of the space liner in the movie “Enemy Mine” based on the story of Barry Longier directed by Wolfgang Petersen. Quaid's success in science fiction films earned him yet another role - in the movie "Inner Space," directed by Joe Dante. Dennis's character is Duck Pendelton, who is involved in scientific research to reduce living things to microscopic sizes.
Variety of roles
In 1989, Dennis Quaid starred in two films: "Fireballs" directed by Jim Mikebride and "From the Life of Secret Agents" directed by Herbert Ross. In the first film, Dennis played the legendary rock singer Jerry Lee Lewis, who was condemned by society for marrying too young Myra Brown. The second film is about a couple working for the CIA. Special agents Jeff (Dennis Quaid) and Jane (Kathleen Turner), upon arrival on vacation in a small resort town, come under close surveillance by the local police.
Star partnership
Two films - "Look at Paradise" directed by Alan Parker and "Postcards from the Abyss" directed by Mike Nichols - were filmed in 1990. In the first, Quaid played the main role, in the second he played Jack Faulkner, a supporting hero, but his partners in the film were Hollywood stars of the first magnitude, Meryl Streep and Shirley McLain.
In his next film, Dennis Quaid starred three years later, in 1993. It was a film directed by Glenn Gordon Karen called Cleaner Napalm, where the actor played Wallace, a man with supernatural powers. The character of Quaid could, by the power of thought, set fire to surrounding objects and even people.
In 1995, Dennis Quaid first met on the set with Julia Roberts. They had to play a married couple in the film directed by Lasse Hallstrem "Reason for conversation." The plot focuses on Grace Bichon (Julia Roberts) and Eddie Bichon performed by Cuyed. Events in the picture begin to unfold after Grace finds out about her husband’s infidelity.
Failure
Of the most recent films featuring Dennis Quaid, Fort Alamo, filmed in 2004 by director John Lee Hancock, can be noted. Filming began after numerous rearrangements of directors and actors. Initially, Ron Howard was supposed to sit in the director's chair, and Russell Crowe was engaged in the main role . However, at the second stage of the discussions regarding the financial support of the film project, disagreements arose. Howard demanded a budget increase of up to $ 200 million, and his proposals were not accepted. As a result, both Ron Howard and Russell Crowe left the project. But the most interesting thing is that “Fort Alamo” subsequently failed miserably at the box office, collecting only about 25 million of the required 120.
Dennis Quaid, whose filmography was already quite extensive then, did not feel this failure on himself and continued to appear, as if nothing had happened.
Personal life
Dennis Quaid’s personal life is only one shock so far, but what a shock! In 1991, he married Hollywood superstar, the darling of all America, charming Meg Ryan. How he succeeded, no one can still understand, including Meg herself, and her mother even more so. The whole being of this worthy woman, the mother of the actress, rebelled against Quaid drinking and sniffing cocaine. But ... the forbidden fruit, as you know, is sweet, and Meg Ryan did not listen to her mother. And although Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan did not quite fit together, the wedding took place.
At first, everything was fine in the family of Dennis and Meg, the actor stopped drinking, a son was born to the happy spouses. A career in cinema was successfully promoted by both. This went on until 2000, and then on the set of the Proof of Life film project Meg Ryan met the lead actor, Russell Crowe. Meg also starred as a female. The interaction of the actor and actress was quite close throughout the process of filming. And it ended with unexpectedly flashing feelings.
For a while, the lovers managed to hide their meetings. But no matter how they were encrypted, no matter how they flew from one city to another, the ubiquitous paparazzi tracked them down. Of course, you won’t envy Dennis Quaid, the blow to self-esteem was palpable. But the actor quickly came to his senses. As for Russell, he did not stay long near Meg Ryan, he soon left her, citing his love for his native continent, Australia.